Daniel Cordina (right) following a win with Ziggy Rocks.
The Cordina family has done so much for harness racing.
Joe Cordina had such a passion for the sport as an owner, breeder and sponsor with his business Cordina Chickens continuing to support the industry to this day.
His son Daniel has continued the legacy left by Joe but added a further dimension to his involvement as a dedicated administrator within the sport.
Daniel is currently a Board member of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club at Club Menangle and is also an committee member of the NSW Standardbred Owners Association where he works tirelessly to get the best possible outcomes for members.
Joe’s best pacer was the champion filly Ashlees Babe who amassed $334,117 in stakes from 22 career wins that included the 2003 Queensland Oaks, the JL Raith Memorial, and the Princess Mile.
Following his father’s passing, Daniel bred from Ashlees Babe who produced Scarlet Babe, winner of the 2019 Red Ochre at Dubbo.
Cordina has raced many smart pacers in recent years with a number of trainers, including Bernie Hewitt, Mat Rue, and his cousin David Micallef.
But he maintains his friendship with and support of Peter and Margaret Morris and their family who trained Ashlees Babe all those years ago.
Tonight at Newcastle, KerryAnn Morris has two of Daniel’s pacers contesting the same race, the Sky Racing Active Pace (race 5).
Pet Rock gelding Ziggy Rocks is favoured to take out the race with Robert Morris choosing to drive the six year old in preference to his stablemate, Aalesund which will be driven by Lleyton Green.
Ziggy Rocks bounced back into the winners list when he scored an impressive win at Newcastle last Friday night, rating 1.53.9 and scoring by almost five metres after leading.
Before that win he done most of his racing at Tabcorp Park Menangle and benefitted from a drop in grade.
Aalsund is a mare that Cordina bred from another of his father’s smart race mares, Major Joy and despite being quoted at $15 in betting markets, she could be a threat to Ziggy Rocks after drawing ideally in barrier one.
She was also a winner at Newcastle last week which took her career record to eleven wins and 26 placings, and her earnings past the $100,000 mark.
Clayton Harmey’s two runners, Dhaulagiri and Johnson Step are the biggest threats to Cordina’s pair tonight.
